A Portrait of Majestic France

15 DAYS FROM PARIS TO BORDEAUX

Day 1 – Paris

Arrive at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, where you will be transferred to the ship.

Day 2 – Vernon (Giverny), Les Andelys

FEATURED EXCURSIONS: Choice of Monet’s Giverny OR exclusive guided “Go Active” bike ride to Giverny and hike to Château Gaillard

Monet often painted the little riverside town of
Vernon, your port of call, so you are likely to recognize
scenes the master rendered in oils on your way to his
home in Giverny. You have a choice as to how you wish
to journey to his home where he lived and worked for
more than 40 years—via a short bus ride or by bike.
Once there, you’ll discover how Monet immortalized
his home and gardens in his paintings. Later, cruise
along the peaceful Seine to Les Andelys, where you
may wish to hike up to Château Gaillard, Richard the
Lionheart’s 12th-century stronghold, offering inspiring
views of the Seine. Cap the day off at the festive
Captain’s Welcome Reception and Gala dinner.
Note: Giverny will be closed during the October 29 and November 5
cruise departure dates. Instead of Giverny, guests will visit the gardens
of Versailles.

Day 3 – Rouen

Victor Hugo called Rouen the city with a hundred
bell towers—and easily the most famous is the one
rising above Notre Dame Cathedral, which you’ll visit.
You will also see the Renaissance clock tower and
the bronze cross marking the site where Joan of Arc
was burned at the stake. Your tour includes stops to
sample some delicacies of Normandy, including white
cider and Camembert. For a more active experience,
you have a choice to go golfing at Rouen’s Mont-Saint-
Aignan, just minutes from the city. This 18-hole course
offers both veterans and beginners the chance to play
in a beautiful setting surrounded by woods.

Note: Golf excursions are open to a limited number of golfers.

Day 4 – Caudebec-en-Caux (Honfleur or Étretat)

Travel through bucolic Calvados countryside to
Honfleur, an enchanting seaside town. You’ll soon
discover why impressionist painters came to paint its
inspiring scenery. For those who want to continue
their French golf experience, you’ll want to go play
at Golf d’Étretat, perched on the clifftops more than
150 ft. above the sea, making playing golf here both
a memorable experience and visual feast.

Day 5 – Rouen (Normandy Beaches)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of Utah and Omaha beaches, Sainte-Mère-Église OR Juno Beach or Bayeux, and Arromanches and the American Cemetery

Normandy has been the setting for many battles over
the centuries, including the D-Day invasion of WWll.
You decide how you wish to experience it. For those
wishing to visit the American airborne forces’ landing
beaches, you’ll want to go to the historic Utah and
Omaha beaches, along with Pointe du Hoc, one of
the strategic strong points between the two beaches.
You’ll also visit Sainte-Mère-Église, which became the
first town in France to be liberated, and its airborne
museum. If you prefer to go to the Canadian landing
beaches, journey to Juno Beach, where the 3rd
Canadian infantry division came ashore; you’ll see
the exhibit at the Canadian Center. And for those
who wish to see an astonishing millennium-old
textile listed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World
Register, you’ll wish to travel to Bayeux to view the
famous 11th-century tapestry depicting the Battle
of Hastings. All groups will meet later in the day at
the American Cemetery and Memorial honoring US
soldiers. While here, you are welcome to participate
in a special remembrance ceremony that includes a
wreath laying, the American national anthem and a
moment of silence.

Day 6 – Mantes-la-Jolie (Versailles)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Choice of Palace of Versailles OR Château de Malmaison

Dock in Mantes-la-Jolie, gateway to either an excursion
to Versailles or Château de Malmaison. Versailles set
the standard for opulence, not just in the 17th century
but for the succeeding centuries as well. Tour the royal
apartments, which still look much as they did when
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette fled in 1789. Marvel at
the magnificent Hall of Mirrors and walk through some
of the fountain-filled gardens. Château de Malmaison,
once home to Napoleon’s first empress, Josephine, is
filled with Empire-style furnishings, thanks to the keen
eye of young Josephine. Here the empress entertained
in elegance and created gardens that were world
famous in her day. Cap your royal day off with the
festive Captain’s Farewell Reception and Gala Dinner.

Hemingway called Paris a moveable feast: Once
you’ve experienced it, you will take it with you
wherever you go. You have three choices for how you
wish to experience the city. If you are experiencing
Paris for the first time, you may wish to take a cruise
along the Seine for an unforgettable look at the heart
of Paris from the water and continue on a panoramic
tour to see the City of Light’s most famous sights,
with a stop at the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens. For
those who wish to experience Paris as a true Parisian,
join the “Do as the Locals Do” tour. Take the Métro
to the Île de la Cité, the historic center of Paris, and
the great cathedral of Notre Dame. An expert in the
history and architecture of this magnificent cathedral
is your guide as you explore both inside and out. After
you’ve admired Notre Dame’s stained glass, flying
buttresses and idiosyncratic gargoyles, cross the
Archbishop’s Bridge to the Left Bank and the Latin
Quarter. Wander through the narrow streets where
for centuries artists, writers, philosophers and the
Sorbonne’s students have lived and worked, argued
politics, painted, sipped absinthe and lived the
bohemian lifestyle for which the district is famous. And
for those who prefer a more active exploration of the
city, hop on a bicycle for a guided ride along the Seine.

Day 9 – Cadillac, Bordeaux

You’re in for a treat as you embark on a fascinating
study of Sauternes, the highly prized, golden-hued
sweet wine that takes its name from the region. Visit
one of the area’s finest estates for a wine tasting, and
then be treated to a delectable wine-pairing lunch at
Château de Cazeneuve, an 85-acre estate. Here, you’ll
gather for a delectable wine-pairing lunch and learn
how easy (and fun) it is to pair a sweet wine with a
whole new variety of dishes. Extend your celebration
into the evening with the Captain’s Welcome
Reception and Gala Dinner.
Note: Sailing on this stretch of the Garonne depends on the tides. If it is
not possible to sail to Cadillac, you will be taken to your destination via
motorcoach.

Day 10 – Cruising the Garonne River and Gironde Estuary, Pauillac

Sail the Garonne River and the Gironde Estuary
before heading to Pauillac, gateway to the storied
Médoc wine route and the prestigious “châteaux
road.” You’ll have a panoramic tour of the heart of
the celebrated Haut-Médoc wine-growing region
and taste wines at one of its estates. If you wish for a
more active exploration of the region, take a guided
bicycle ride through Pauillac and the lush landscapes
of historic estates that have seemingly remained
unchanged for centuries. Do all those beautiful
vineyards make you yearn to sample their fruit?
Luckily, this adventure includes a stop at Château
Lynch-Bages for a wine tasting.

Scenic drive along the Route de la Corniche Fleurie with Blaye Fortress

Sail across the peaceful waters of the estuary, where
fishing huts rise above grassy marshlands edged by
limestone cliffs, as you make your way to the town
of Blaye. A visual feast awaits you on a storied road
named for the many flowers that line it, Route de
la Corniche Fleurie, which wends its way through
picturesque hamlets filled with old stone houses. Stop
in the medieval walled village of Bourg-sur-Gironde,
with a rich historic and architectural heritage, before
heading back to Blaye, where you’ll be guided through
the imposing 17th-century Blaye Fortress, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.

Day 12 – Libourne (Saint-Émilion)

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Saint-Émilion walking discovery tour with wine tasting

Hilltop Saint-Émilion offers both exceptional
architecture and historic vineyards. The Romans were
the first to plant grapes here, and this was the first
vineyard region to be protected by UNESCO because
of its history. Saint-Émilion is entered by way of
one of the seven gates that are part of the original
medieval fortifications. Inside the walls, discover
steep, narrow cobblestone streets, stores brimming
with wine and wine tools, and the extraordinary 12th-century
Monolithic Church, carved into a cliff—only
the tower is above ground; the rest of the church is
subterranean. After touring Saint-Émilion, you’ll visit
the cellars of a premier Grand Cru estate where you’ll
taste some of the world’s most highly rated wines.

Day 13 – Libourne, cruising the Garonne River, Bordeaux

FEATURED EXCURSIONS:

Libourne “Village Day” with farmers’ market, and exclusive “Bordeaux under the Stars” tour

How could you visit this rich agricultural land without
delving into a farmers’ market? Libourne’s sprawling
farmers’ market is a food lover’s paradise, with stands
selling fresh produce, cheeses, charcuterie and more.
Explore its bounty with a local expert and take a peek
inside the workshops of talented local artisans. Cap
the day off with the “Bordeaux under the Stars” tour
via an open-top bus for a view of this extraordinarily
beautiful city illuminated at night.

Day 14 – Bordeaux

How to spend your last day in Bordeaux? You have two
exclusive opportunities to see this magnificent place,
whose seamless blend of classical and neoclassical
architecture led to its being designated a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. “Do as the Locals Do” as you
stroll the most graceful streets with your local expert,
including luxury food halls; local delicacies, such as
canelés and chocolates; and popular wine bars. If you
prefer a more active experience, join a guide for a
bicycle ride through city. Celebrate your last evening
onboard with the festive Captain’s Farewell Reception
and Gala Dinner.

Day 15 – Bordeaux (disembark), transfer to the airport

Disembark the ship and transfer to Bordeaux–Mérignac International Airport for your flight home.